The Mills Brothers CD
$ 11.98
Piqua, Ohio’s The Mills Brothers Remain One of America’s Most Revered and Iconic Vocal Groups
The Mills Brothers Recorded over 2000 Songs in a Career That Spanned Seven Decades
However, They Recorded Very Few Gospel Tunes
Wonderful Words of Life—The Inspirational Recordings Is the First-Ever Full-Length Collection of Their Highly Influential Gospel Sides
Among the Tracks Are Peak-Period Performances Taken from the Decca Label’s Early ‘50s Faith Series
The Mills Brothers’ Smooth Approach to the Material Marked These Recordings as Some of the First Pop-Gospel Sessions
Liner Notes by Davin Seay
Remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision
One of America’s most iconic and beloved vocal groups, Piqua, Ohio’s The Mills Brothers recorded over 2000 songs during a seven-decade career, virtually every tune in the Great American Songbook, but only a tiny sliver of their voluminous discography was devoted to gospel music. Now, Real Gone Music has put together the first-ever compilation of The Mills Brothers’ inspirational sides, recordings that were, in their own way, influential on the entire genre. For The Mills Brothers brought the same creamy harmonies and savvy blend of jazz, blues, and pop to this material that they brought to their secular repertoire, eschewing the impassioned call-and-response style of the black church to create some of the first pop-gospel recordings. Half of this collection hails from a boxed set of four 45 rpm 7” singles that Decca issued in the early ‘50s as part of its Faith Series, so these are peak period performances as well. With liner notes by Davin Seay and remastering by Mike Milchner at SonicVision, Wonderful Words of Life—The Inspirational Recordings is a long-overdue look at a little-known side of one of the first African-American vocal groups to cross over into widespread popular success.
1. Brighten the Corner Where You Are
2. The Old Rugged Cross
3. Holy, Holy, Holy
4. Sweet Hour of Prayer
5. In the Sweet Bye and Bye
6. Bringing in the Sheaves
7. In the Garden
8. Just a Closer Walk with Thee
9. Rock of Ages
10. Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?
11. Wonderful Words of Life
12. I Need Thee Every Hour
13. Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me
14. When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder
15. Now the Day Is Over
16. Will There Be Any Stars?
